Brock Turner, the former Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault this spring, is set to be released from jail today, while state lawmakers work to pass legislation that would mandate harsher penalties in similar cases.
Turner was convicted of three felony sexual assault charges back in March, the product of a January 2015 incident in which the then-freshman was discovered on top of an unconscious woman behind a dumpster on the Stanford campus.
The case didn’t really start making waves outside the swimming community until June, though, when Turner was sentenced to 6 months in jail. The sentence, criticized by many as too lenient, became a hotly-contested point of national discussion on social media for a few weeks. Prosecutors had reportedly asked the judge for a 6-year sentence, though the punishment could have been as high as 10 years under California state law.
Judge Aaron Persky pointed to Turner’s young age and lack of criminal history in giving him the six-month sentence, though the judge himself met a pretty severe backlash, particularly from social media, along with an online petition to have him removed from his seat.
Soon after Turner was sentenced and booked into jail on June 2, the Santa Clara County website listed his release date as September 2 – only three months after his booking, not 6. An official from the county sheriff’s office said it was typical for inmates to serve only half their sentences, with the full sentence being a consequence of fighting or misbehaving while in jail.
The county website still lists today as Turner’s release date, suggesting he is set to go free, though he will still be on probation. Turner will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, was banned from the Stanford campus after his arrest and will not be allowed to regain his USA Swimming membership.
In addition, California lawmakers passed legislation over the summer requiring a prison sentence for anyone convicted of sex crimes in which the victim is unconscious. The bill passed 66-0, according to The Sacramento Bee, and was sent to the governor for his signature as of Monday.
I thought he was going to a mental hospital for help as well. Did I dream that?
Yes, you did dream that.
I still think it could have started out consuentually and then she passed out.. She abused alcohol. Bad things follow this.
This reflects a lack of knowledge as to what is consent. If she was passed out, then she could not consent. If she was about to pass out, she was too drunk to consent. Even if she explicitly said yes when she was sober, consent ended once she was drunk. Believing that it was somehow less criminal because you think it started consensually is exactly the sort of thinking that leads to rape. Also, blaming the victim? Really?
You obviously didn’t read all of the reports and evidence.
The USA has the highest % of its population in adult jails in the world . CA is under a 2011Supreme Court ruling to reduce its prison poulation or provide more facilities. CA uses county jails & pre sentencing probation officers to comply & divert . Reducing sentencing is the cheapest hence the 3 month recommendation by the probation officer .
Hence no matter the new law – unless alcohol & sex are banned ( & not even then ) there is only so much room .There are still people in jails serving 25 years for stealing sox .under the 3 Strikesout law.
What does “sex” have to do with anything? This was rape. There’s a difference!!
I have a question for people who are upset by the light sentence. The judge simply followed his usual policy of accepting the recommendation of the probation department. Why isn’t there an outcry demanding someone in the probation department lose his/her job? At the very least, why isn’t there an outcry against lenient recommendations of the probation department?
The recommendation was actually for 1 year or less. Persky only gave him 6 months, knowing with good behavior he could be out in 3. While that seems to conform to the recommendation, it still reflects Persky’s discretion. “1 year or less” could mean a year or a day, choosing something in the middle does not reduce Persky’s culpability.
I care more about the victim than this dude and his father. The victim was very articulate in her comments about what she had to endured. It will always be a part her. Too bad Brock treated her as a piece of meat for his gratification. What a terrible character! So very sad that happened to her. This whole incident brought the sport of swimming and Stanford real shame. Tragedy all around.
I wish Mr. Turner success in beginning his new life. I hope he can become a productive member of society.
I doubt that.
Wait so…who is this now?
While a student at Stanford University, he raped a woman at a party and was convicted and is now released after serving jail time
My bad, that was sarcasm. Would have had to be in a coma to not have heard this story.
There have been several illegal aliens who committed murder and served less time than this
But Obama protects them
Can you supply specific examples?
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/14/124-illegal-immigrants-released-by-dhs-later-charg/
Actually, I favor border control but most of the murders are committed by their children or grandchildren that are involved in gangs.
Rape is murder of the soul. You try living a normal happy afterwards. It doesn’t matter if you were unconcious during it. The after affects haunt you forever.